Royal recognition for winning Toyota apprentices

His Royal Highness, the Duke of York, presented Britain’s winning team of technician apprentices with special commemorative plaques when he visited the Toyota Academy on Nottingham University Campus on Thursday 26 April.

The three apprentice technicians, from Toyota and Lexus dealers, represented the UK against teams from France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands at the Toyota Skills Open competition in Rotterdam earlier in the month.

The competition involved one theoretical and seven practical tasks over three days.

The winning team members were Michael Derham of Hodgson Toyota, Newcastle, Mathew Cassells of Lexus Birmingham and Daniel Done of Andrew Rowley Toyota in St Albans.

The Duke made the presentation during a visit to the Toyota Academy to learn about Toyota’s commitment to the recruitment and training of young people to work in its dealers. The visit particularly focused on the sophisticated technology found in new cars such as the hybrid Prius and Lexus models.

Toyota places tough demands on potential employees and takes candidates with several good GCSE passes, attempting to attract young people who might otherwise go to work in the electronics industry.

The link with Nottingham University – on whose campus the Toyota Academy is situated – is all part of offering students a top class education far removed from the old image of a car mechanic.

During the visit His Royal Highness spoke with many students and staff, learning of Toyota’s commitment to the development of environmental technologies as well as its close ties with the East Midlands, the Burnaston car manufacturing plant being only 20 minutes away from the Nottingham campus.